Host Richard Hentschel discusses several insects currently in the home landscape. scale insects are active right now on several kinds of plants. The black sooty mold seen as a reslut of the sticky sap dripping down from the scale feeding. gall forming insects are also showing up as those galls have enlarged in size or a change in color is happening. Black Knot of plum is also been reported. Large swollen growth along the stems and branches has been apparent recently too.